"He Hath Done All Things Well"

By Roy Loney

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     The vast audience stood awed before the mighty power of the Prophet of Nazareth, as his healing touch and authoritative voice removed every human affliction. The blind saw, the dumb spake and the deaf heard. With one voice the audience affirmed "He bath done all things well." Never before in all human history had such a manifestation of divine power been exercised for the alleviation of human suffering. Leprosy, paralysis, and every human disease yielded instantly to the power of the Son of God. No wonder such vast multitudes followed him step by step over all of Galilee. At a word of command the devils were cast out, the multitudes were fed and the tempest stilled. The awe-struck disciples could exclaim in hushed words, "What manner of man is this, for he commandeth even the winds and the water and they obey him."

     Great as were his miracles of healing for the physical man, greater was his work in changing the moral and spiritual man. The cringing, cowardly disciples were transformed into men of superb courage and boldness. They who in panic forsook him in the hour of danger and fled in precipitate haste, soon were willing to endure torture and death in his behalf. Their entire outlook on life was changed. Physical life meant nothing, but to defend the holy claims of the Son of God became a passion with them. The hateful murderous Saul was turned from his course of bitter prejudice and persecution to a life of consecration in behalf of the high idealism of the gospel. Fallen women came to him in tears of penitence and went away cleansed and forgiven, with high idealism in their hearts. No person could come in contact with him and accept his teaching without being changed. Vileness was exchanged for purity, and physical desires were forgotten in a sincere struggle to live for higher and nobler aspirations. The adulterers, fornicators, thieves, idolators, drunkards and extortioners of Corinth became the saints of God under the power of that old story of the Cross. A transformed life became a greater miracle than a cured body, and a million converts in the first century testified to the amazing power of him who "bath done all things well."

     But I greatly fear that his disciples are inclined to place too much emphasis on the deeds of the past and forget the possibilities of Christ today. To many Christ is merely a historical character whose great deeds of the past are mere history with little meaning for us today. He is not a helpful friend. He strengthens none in their weakness. He comforts none in their sorrow. He changes no characters and stimulates none to high idealism. He is, for the most part, merely a teacher of doctrine and theology. Have we not forgotten Paul's affirmation that Christ is the same yesterday today and forever? His ascension to heaven was not intended to mean his withdrawal from the affairs or needs of men. On the contrary, he wishes us to understand that from the throne of the highest, he can and will more adequately minister to our needs, stimulate our hearts and raise us to the very mountain tops of holiness. The expression "bath done all things well" is past tense, but we will surely do

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him disservice if we act as if his power belongs entirely to the past. The power that cleansed the vile lepers can and will purify the moral and spiritual heart of man today of the vileness of sin. The power that stilled the tempests and calmed the turbulent waves on Galilee, can and will still the distressed and troubled heart. The great power that fed the multitude can feed the hearts that are hungry for righteousness. He who bore the cross to Calvary can and will bear the burden of your cares and trials. He who wept in divine compassion with the broken hearted sisters at the grave of their brother, can and will share your sorrows with you now and wipe away the falling tears of bitter grief. Why keep saying "He bath done all things well" instead of saying he can now do all things well?

     The great hero of yesterday must not become the forgotten one of today. There is no lessening of his power to help and bless humanity. Why should we forget Paul's statement that "he is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think?" (Eph. 3:20). Humanity's needs today cannot be supplied by a historical Christ, any more than France grave problems can be solved in the tomb of the buried Napoleon. There is no greater need than to get Christ out of the buried dogmas of theology and make of him a vital living force in our present lives. He who strengthened and transformed the impetuous, vacillating Peter, and made of him the boldest of men, can accomplish the same wonderful work in all human hearts today if only we will awaken to the fact that Christianity is not dogmas nor doctrines. Christianity is "Christ in you the hope of glory."

     I am distressed and disheartened over the vast amount of trouble, strife and contention among us today, and such a condition appears to be on the increase. If only we would forget doctrines and dogmas for awhile and concentrate on a living Christ, how greatly we could and would improve the moral and spiritual situation that confronts us. The Greeks who came to Philip (John 12:21) did not ask to be taught Christ's doctrine; but their earnest plea was "Sir, we would see Jesus." I believe that is the same cry today but unexpressed in the hearts of sinful humanity. We should not say, "Come and let me show you Christ's doctrine": Rather we should say "Come and let me show you the ever living Christ; one who can strengthen you when you are weak. One who will make life more meaningful, by showing you how to live it in the services of others. Let me show you a Christ who will stand by your side in the hour of your grief and sorrow and with a loving hand wipe away the falling tears."

     Only when Christ dwells in our hearts by faith; when he revitalizes our lives, fills us with zeal for the lost, captures our minds and brings them entirely into subjection to his divine will can we truly say "He bath done all things. He maketh the weak to be strong, the vile to be clean, the indifferent to become alive to spiritual realities. Truly, he is doing all things well."